By Frater Albertus

It may be of interest to you to know that I have just now returned from Europe where Fulcanelli's only pupil, Eugene Canseliet, and I have met at his home to clarify some topics that have caused misunderstandings among those who have read his books and explanations he previously gave about some of his personal alchemistical concepts.

On August 17th of this year Signore Augusto Pancaldi of Ascona and I took the Orient Express from Domodossella, Italy, to Paris. It had been arranged by Sign. Villa-Santa of Lugano that I should meet Fulcanelli's only student, Eugene Canseliet, in his home near Beauvair, an hour's train ride from the Gare de Lyon in Paris. Since Canseliet spoke no English, Sign. Pancaldi who speaks four languages fluently and who is himself active in laboratory alchemy, was to act as interpreter and to help with the difficult alchemistical language barrier.

When we arrived at the previously arranged time, Madame Canseliet informed us that she knew nothing of our coming and we were told Monsieur, Canseliet was not at home. This appeared to be a ruse to prevent him from being disturbed. However, she agreed that we could return later, since she did know how to reach him. We returned later and were received by him as he unlocked the chain from the gate and ushered us into his house and the not-too-large living room. Canseliet is small of stature, bald in front with the sparse hair left on the sides and back of his head hanging down in long strands to his neck.

The three of us were sitting at the round table, and after the formalities were concluded and the conversation became animated, Canseliet consented to answer the questions I had prepared on the train from Paris to Beauvais. Sign. Pancaldi began to read the questions and wrote down precisely the answers Canseliet gave to avoid any misunderstandings later. When some of the original French words of Canseliet's are placed in my notes in parentheses it is only to compare meanings and show that the translation from the French has the same meaning.

I began by asking: "Monsieur Canseliet, you have become famous in Europe through your alchemistical literary efforts, especially by publishing Fulcanelli's two books. Since only one has been translated into English, your name is not as well known in the U.S.A. as in your native France. I will give only an authentic version of our personal meeting here in your house. May I ask you for additional information?"

A. Yes, because alchemy does not change in itself (immutable Alchemy is the great harmony. In a sense it is also the art of music as well as the priestly art that requires a constant purification because the alchemist has to be in constant unison (soit au diapason) with his matter and the Cosmic. All this has to be in absolute purity exactly as Rulandus said in his Lexicon: alchemia est impuri separatio. . .

Alchemy consists of three parts:
1.) To be in harmony with the matter to be worked with.
2.) This harmony has to be also within the alchemist.
3.) To be in harmony with the Cosmic.

All of these three have to be in harmony as one.

This harmony can be considerably intruded upon by waves which disturb the weather (meteora) as can be noticed by the constantly clouded sky and the presently continued drought.

We do the same in the laboratory that the old ones did, except that we have the advantage of better technical equipment but lack what the old one's had, a closer relationship with nature. They also had the advantage of the four seasons that were not so disturbed as we experience now. When the sky is covered, the Universal Spirit can't descend.

Q. Your name, Canseliet, has become almost synonymous with that of Fulcanelli. Is this because you are the only person who, can be named as his pupil?

A. I have been the only (le seul) pupil of Fulcanelli.

Q. Did you work theoretically with Fulcanelli or were you only his helper in practical alchemistical laboratory work, or both?

A. We, Fulcanelli and myself, were engaged only in speculative alchemy. I have seen quite a few things while I was with Fulcanelli. I did him many favors that made it possible for me to watch him often while he worked. I did not work with him. I only observed. It was in 1915 when I got to know Fulcanelli. I was then 16 years old and it happened through a servant of his who said to me: "I am going to introduce you to a very interesting person," and that was Fulcanelli.

Q. When did you see Fulcanelli last?

A. I was around Fulcanelli for 15 years. Fulcanelli left in 1930, the year when "Demeuvres Philosophales" (Dwellings of the Philosophers) was published. Do you know "Le Mystere des Cathedrales?" It has been translated into English but I am not convinced that it is a good translation, especially since I don't speak English. In 1932 Jules Champagne died, whose portrait you see hanging there on the wall. He was the one who made all the drawings in the book.

Q. Do you know where Fulcanelli originated? Where he came from?

A. No. I only know that he had a large circle of friends, among them Ferdinand Lesseps (builder of the Suez Canal) and Pierre Curie to mention only a few well-known names.

Q. Do you know where Fulcanelli is now, or do you have any clues?

A. In 1922 he visited me several times in Sarcelles. When he left in 1930, he was an old man (un vieillard) but when I saw him again in 1952 he looked hardly 50 years old.

Q. Whom do you consider the best informed alchemist alive in Europe or generally?

A. I don't know any (Je ne connais pas).

Q. Are you in contact with other alchemists here on earth? If yes, with whom?

A. I don't know any. There was Barbault and Savaret, but otherwise I know only students of alchemy, and I am an older student, one of the oldest who works with the younger students because alchemy is above all the art of fire.

Q. What do you think of Armand Barbault and his spagyric method of production since we both, you and I knew him personally?

A. This is spagyric chemistry. I know personally from him that he wanted to work in such a way. His "Turba" is not the prima materia of the philosophers. One cannot take it seriously (ce n'est pas serieux). One cannot make out of plant leftovers (dachets vegeteux) something useful, but there are fields where personal conviction plays a part and everyone works according to his beliefs.

Q. What do you see in the future concerning the practical laboratory alchemy?

A. I believe youth (les Jeunes) will enter into it (s'y mettre). For more than 20 years I have observed that the future of alchemy belongs to youth.
The philosopher with his stone is always in the presence and this presence contains both past and future.

Q. Would you be willing that we, you and I, perform jointly some practical laboratory experiments in your laboratory, or whatever place you would choose?

A. I can see no difficulty as soon as the laboratory is ready, but not at this time of the year.

Mr. Pancaldi then said to Canseliet: "I can take care of the preliminaries for this joint project. It is up to you to suggest which way you would like to prepare the philosophical mercury either by the dry or the wet method, since both can be used. The time is depending on our presence next year from the beginning of June until August."

A. I prefer the dry way. Do you know that the philosophical mercury
can only be produced at the proper time? This time is considered within
traditional alchemy as spring because only the philosophical mercury that is produced during this time is the philosophical mercury. Therefore, to know the correct time is of importance.

Q. Are you acquainted with the product of the philosophical mercury both the wet and dry way and are you prepared to prove it?

A. No. In my opinion most traditional texts speak of the wet and dry way, only to use it as a trick to conceal the dry way from obtaining the philosophical mercury. The philosophical mercury can only be made the dry way.

Mr. Pancaldi interrupted and pointing to me said: "He can use a glass container for either the dry or wet way, to which, Canseliet answered only with, "No."

Q. What do, you understand under philosophical mercury?

A. The soul (l'ame), this is the minute part (la partie minuscule) that can be obtained from the mass during the sublimation in the dry way. This also called the little fish (le petit poisson=la remore) that becomes a stone.

Q. Did Fulcanelli prove in the laboratory how to produce the philosophical mercury, and did you personally handle the same? If Yes, would recognize at once the philosophical mercury if I were to show it to you?

A. Yes, I have watched. Yes, I have handled the philosophical mercury. Yes, I would recognize the philosophical mercury if one would show some.

Q. Were you an eyewitness while Fulcanelli made the gold transmutation?

A. Yes. I was present with Gaston Sauvage and Jules Champagne. The transmutation was made in the Usine a Gaz de Sarcelles where I was employed. The transmutation was performed by myself under the direction of Fulcanelli. I received three small pieces of the transmuting stone (pierre transmutatoire). This transmuting stone consisted of one part gold and one part philosophical stone.

Q. Did Fulcanelli make any other transmutation with only you present?

A. No. He did not make any transmutation with only myself present.
I know only of the one at Sarcelles.

Q. Do you continue to teach your pupils what Fulcanelli has taught you?

A. I am the headmaster (chef d'ecole) similar to Andre Breton. My contact with the pupils is through books and considerable correspondence. I am also visited by many people and if I would not from time to time act that I am not available at home, I would not be able to do very much (sinon je ne ferais plus rien). I have also considerable correspondence with Italians.

Q. Have you had any personal alchemical success in the laboratory after Fulcanelli left you, which others can testify to?

A. Yes. Formerly, when I was more engaged in experimenting than at present, I have caused an Aurora Borealis.
The last coction I have not as yet accomplished except for the sequence of color and that of the planets which can't be followed in an earthenware vessel. One can, however, by the harmonious noises and whistling sounds make a comparison without a chromatic scale. One may say chromatic because of its color relationship to the musical scale. This last coction I have not been able to complete because the time which the old ones called "the week of the weeks" (la semaine de la semaine) has not been favored by the weather, because of the distortion of the air by the various waves. This is the reason why my last coction simply will not take place or can take place.

You know that for such a week the following traditional requirements have to exist during spring: beautiful weather so the sky is clear (ciel decouvert) and also, the second quarter of the moon going towards the full moon is not always so easy to bring together with the first.

Q. Do you still teach practical laboratory alchemy?

A. I teach through books and personal contact. Science and the university are my territory and not so-called occult circles.

Q. Do your students teach?

A. L'association culturelle de l'universite de Paris gave me recognition with the title 'savant' and I am proud of it.

Q. Would you allow me to photograph your alchemistical laboratory so posterity would have a picture of it?

A. Just now I am moving my laboratory. I can't very well manage the stairs to the top anymore. You can see the new fireplace at the end of the garden. As you know, the chimney is an important part of the laboratory.

Q. Are you presently using any of your own alchemical preparations for your personal health?

A. Yes. Thanks to this alchemical preparation I am still here. In 1974 I had a heart attack. Thanks to the 'niter' which I produce as a pink salt out of the dew in spring could I recover.

Since Mr. Pancaldi and myself had another appointment the same evening in Paris, we left, after spending the afternoon with Canseliet in his home, to meet with Prof. Dr. Monod-Herzen, the eminent French physicist, who showed considerable interest in laboratory alchemy. It was not only a pleasant meeting but a highly stimulating and interesting one, since the professor has spent his entire life to discover the origin of light from the physicists' point of view while not ignoring what alchemy could reveal as possible additional information.

Soon after, we were invited to make the personal acquaintance of Signore Julio Villa-Santa of Lugano, who also had an interview with Canseliet some years ago, to compare his interview with ours. It showed no marked difference. The former was used in a Round Table discussion over the Swiss Radio Network. Both Sign. Villa-Santa and his wife, the former Countess Sophia Tekeli de Scel, are keen students of alchemy and are looking forward to next year and the joint experiments of Canseliet and myself near Beauvais, France. +

By Dale Halverstadt

"Process II is that of preparing the vegetable radical menstruum. - Of the vegetable or herb used, one takes the best kind. This is placed in weak acetic acid and rectified spirits of wine. Equal parts of both liquids are used. This mixture is placed in an alembic and distilled. It is digested again and the complete process of mixture and distillation repeated two more times, making a total of three. Finally, as a result of these constant firings, a penitent spirit will come over. There should remain behind, in the alembic, a small amount of dead earth and nitrum, (saltpeter). It will then be necessary to make two or three cohobations - i.e., combining the dead earth with the spirit or essence. In this manner, the vegetable radical menstruum is prepared. By placing other herbs in this menstruum, their essential oils can easily be obtained and, thereby, invaluable elixirs and medications prepared."1

In this paragraph taken from the second edition of Frater Albertus' Alchemist's Handbook, the Vegetable Radical Menstruum (V.R.M.) preparation is described. The following are the efforts, results, and insights of that menstruum preparation by the author.

Of the best kind of vegetable or herb to be used in this work, in all probability the vegetable referred to would be that which is equivalent to man in the animal kingdom and to gold in the mineral kingdom. Basil Valentine would say that such an herb is the grape.2

The V.R.M might be looked at somewhat like the alcohols extracted from various herbs or grains, i.e., some work better than others to use as a menstruum.

Chemically speaking, the union of ethyl alcohol and acetic acid produces an ester called ethyl acetate (also called acetic ether or vinegar naphtha) having the chemical form CH3COOCH205. It has a characteristically fruity odor. Its vapors may be irritating to mucous membranes, while prolonged inhalation may cause renal, hepatic damage.3 Ethyl acetate can be bought from any organic chemical stockroom. I found it to be almost totally useless to extract the essentials of various herbs.

A 95% grain alcohol (500 ml) was added to a good apple vinegar (500 ml) plus 10 mI of H2SO4 (sulfuric acid). (The old alchemists used vitriol, CuSO4 - copper sulfate.) The sulfuric acid should push the reaction and give a much higher yield (the vitriol also has a spirit within it that will give some added power to the menstruum). The vitriol would be alive and thus, if the menstruum were strong enough, would extract this spirit as well and work like NH4Cl (ammonium chloride) in the K.M. From a chemical point of view, the release of the SO4 ions present in this tend to work as a catalyst. They do not enter into the reaction but in the end more of the ester formed. H2S04 (sulfuric acid) will provide this increase. CuSO4 (vitriol) should also provide this. (The author has never had access to CUSO4 ore and could not research it.)

Marriage is important for the vinegar and alcohol. One will want to
digest the vinegar and alcohol together for some period of time to complete the equilibrium of all the products. The above was allowed to stand for a month and then the spirit was distilled out at about 60 degrees C. To distill out the V.R.M. spirit will cause the remaining products to become out of alance. Redigest and they will again seek their balance. We also want to work with the vinegar and alcohol until they will not separate. The H2SO4 sulfuric acid) is hydroscopic (that is, it attracts water) and helps also to push for the marriage.

After all the V.R.M. spirit has been distilled out, there will remain behind some alcohol, acetic acid, and watery phlegm. This we do not want. However, they will distill out. Also left behind are fixed salts, oils, and dead earth - this we do want the spirit to be several times exposed to (just as Dr. Kerckringius makes his K.M.) to give the V.R.M. the spirit of the oil and Once you distill out the V.R.M spirit, this will also contain some water and alcohol (unless you have extremely high quality distillation equipment) that needs to be removed, just as when you take wine and want the alcohol from that. You first distill out the spirit and then rectify (re-distill) several times.

In the fall 1975 Sexta Class, it was demonstrated that this V.R.M. had the extracting power to draw a tincture from a fermenting herband did not have the power to draw a tincture from a freshly macerating herb. A fermenting herb is one that is releasing its own spirit (making alcohol), such as when wine is being made from grapes and water, while a macerating herb is one that is soaking in water, such as when tea is being made. The disadvantage of this menstruum is that though it is still an ether it is water soluble and tends to mix with the water of the macerating herb. This can be circumvented by using angel water rather than water in which to maceraie the herb or to, add this spirit directly over a dried herb.

One should be able to prepare a yet higher form of V.R.M. by using a highly rectified grape wine alcohol and a grape vinegar. Also, much can be learned by making one's own wine and vinegar in the process of making such a menstruum, if one wants to go to the effort. A vinegar may be made from an unpasteurized wine or from a grape juice. Either will work for our V.R.M. The best is the wine vinegar. Dr. Bronner's Red Wine Grape Vinegar, 100 grain concentration, is the best commercial product I know of. Look to your health food stores. Those who choose to work with apple vinegar may obtain a fine apple vinegar from most health foodstores, and a quart of 95% grain alcohol may be obtained from most liquor stores.

One needs to see what one is doing when making the V.R.M. from several standpoints so that more is accomplished than )ust a project.

First, one is marrying the unfixed spirit of the vegetable kingdom to the fixed spirit of the vegetable kingdom This spirit is yet more ethereal than either of the first two spirits.

Second, it will become a better tool as it is used more and more, as one puts it over more and more herbs, for in the process it becomes more refined.

Third, it will itself manifest with more and more healing properties as it is used to extract the virtues of various healing plants.

Fourth, how far one can take sucha menstruum is only to be answered by how far one will take it. There is always more to be done to improve it. All that is required is the ability to distill in the way of lab equipment. Such a menstruum can be a valuable teacher and guide. It is an easy project to work with for if one makes a mistake with it it will be easy to re-distill or even start over.

Fifth, one might use such a menstruum in the mineral kingdom, as Dr. Kerckringius described and used the Kerckringius menstruum in the Triumphal Chariot of Antimony by a similar process .4

Lastly, I might suggest that the nitrum, (saltpeter) seems to be any purified salt of an herb rather than the ore itself. Using the salt of grape wine and grape vinegar is therefore K2CO3 (potassium carbonate) not KNO3 (potassium nitrate). As to the quantity of vinegar and alcohol that one will need to begin with, it must be remembered that it is a poor reaction even under good conditions. Using my recipe, one may expect to start with ten times as much vinegar and twice as much alcohol as you plan to finish with. There is much less fixed spirit in vinegar than the unfixed in the alcohol. A liter of vinegar might give you about 100 ml in the end, if you do well.

These are the results, insights, and efforts on the V.R.M. of the author up to this time. Clearly, more time and effort spent on this project will reveal even more. It is hoped that such beginnings will enable others to use this tool and push beyond this point.

By Carl W. Stahl

Venus In The Constellations

Venus is the planet of love. It is those who express love during this particular Earth Cycle who do, the most good for mankind and who reap the greatest rewards in spiritual progress. But what do we mean by love? True love gives, it does not take. So a good test might be if someone said, "I love you!" to determine if that person intends to give or to take. Love is never sex. Sex is a physical and emotional response and comes under the Moon. It is true that one may have sex with another because they love them but this does not mean that love is sex. The love is in the giving. When Venus is in aspect with other planets it seeks to give itself according to the nature of the planet it aspects. Venus with the Sun gives self love which could increase our creativity. With the Moon the love seeks to express itself sexually. With Mercury love seeks to communicate itself to others. With Mars it brings a touch of tenderness to what would otherwise be, simple assault. With Jupiter we have an expansive and joyous outpouring of love. With Saturn it brings a ray of trust and devotion into a dark and dreary existence. With Uranus love seeks new horizons and freedom of expression. With Neptune love seeks the ideal that may never be realized. With Pluto love expresses itself in the silence and solitude.

VENUS IN LIBRA.

Venus is at home here and the native having the goddess of love here is amongst the most peaceful and gentle of human beings. They find it easy to make friends being themselves lovable and loving. They enjoy the company of others and become quite despondent when not able to enjoy the presence of their friends. They have no, desire to be alone and are only happy when with others. Venus here makes the native charming, delightful and generous to the extreme. The helping hand of friendship is extended to all.

VENUS IN SCORPIO.

Venus is not at home in the house of Mars. The best it can do here is to bring a measure of consideration for others into what is otherwise sheer aggression. The passionate urges are strong, especially if this constellation appears in the foreground of the chart. In the background these passionate urges may lie concealed and dormant. This position may incline the brief periods of generosity instead of always taking without regard for others. The native should seek to understand and help others to get the most out of this position of Venus.

VENUS IN SAGITTARIUS.

The native finds joy and pleasure when in the company of his many friends. They attract others who are gentle, peaceful, law abiding and generous. They have compassion and sympathy for all, seeking ways in which they can extend their happiness and love to others. The sky is the limit where their friends are concerned and even strangers are welcomed with open arms. Under this influence the native gives on all levels of consciousness.

VENUS IN CAPRICORN.

The spirit of love finds it hard to, express its true nature when under the seal of Saturn. Fear and timidity restrict the native's attempts to manifest love. The native's greatest fear is to be embarrassed and to avoid this all expressions of love are hidden under a veil of unconcern. Yet once these natives find their true love, or become married, their partnership is of long duration and usually both parties are faithful to the end.

VENUS IN PISCES.

Venus is exalted in Pisces, the night house of Jupiter, and much of the Piscean desire to, be in the company of others and to indulge themselves is due to this fact. This position causes them to accept others at their face value with the result that they reap trouble, frustration, misery and humiliation when their friends turn out to have feet of clay. They must be carfeful not to waste their love on those who will repay it with contempt and dislike. To seek the impossible dream is the fate of many with Venus here.

VENUS IN ARIES.

The native impulsively goes off in every direction where love is concerned. They aggressively explore every contact in their efforts to pin down love as a material manifestation. Their passionate nature is softened by the presence of the goddess of love but in the main it still expresses as assault and ownership. This Mars rule constellation finds it extremely difficult to give rather than take. Sun exalted here gives them the drive to excel in what they call love.

VENUS IN TAURUS.

The native is in love with love. Those more spiritually inclined seek to look behind the veil of nature to uncover her laws. The always gentle, peace loving, friendly, meek and sociable native of this constellation becomes even more so. They now have such an excess of love that they become in love with themselves. It is almost impossible for them to pass a mirror without stopping to admire themselves. However this does not mean that they love all humanity less.

VENUS IN GEMINI.

Love here is mostly semantics. The native of Gemini is loath to dig too deeply into anything and certainly not into the emotions. The symbol of this constellation is that of twin boys of school age.

We know the immature attitude of young boys toward the opposite sex. So love becomes a matter of discussion, poetry and analysis. It is rather a matter of buddy, buddy than a great love for all humanity. This native requires an alter ego, a constant companion and friend or he becomes extremely lonely. The native is generous, honest and sympathetic toward others.

VENUS IN CANCER.

Venus here makes the native demonstrative, coy, flirtatious, betraying their amorous feelings by smiles, gestures, tone of voice and an irresistable desire to fondle and caress the object of their desires. Natives of this imaginative constellation can create an entire love affair from a word or a gesture that the object of their desire has carelessly, without ulterior intent, made. They have a strong desire to love and be loved. Reason has no foundation here. They are, however, generous, sympathetic and kind to others.

VENUS IN LEO.

The love that Leo gives is usually to himself. Self love is the mainspring of his expression. That and a desire to be loved. They always have to maintain friends, companions and lovers in their immediate vicinity. They shine in the presence of those who admire and look up to them. They seek to, surround themselves with beauty and perfection. In their own regal way they seek to extend the hand of brotherhood and understanding to those who are able to survive in their circle of influence. Venus softens the Sun's arrogance somewhat.

VENUS IN VIRGO.

The normally critical Virgo now tempers his criticism with love, understanding and sympathy. Venus is not at home here and the Virgo native is shy and retiring in his expression of love. Virgo, is more at home on the planes of communication and thought. In spite of this Virgo always has a hand out to assist others and with Venus here he can become the world's baby sitter. His normal curiosity now becomes a real search for those he can tell. His love is expressed in words, poetry and love letters which are masterpieces of the literate art. His normal efficiency suffers from a desire on the native's part to tarry on love's path.

"The Sybil bath been mindful of thee when she placed the 'F,' and right well art thou now standing in the rose; for thou art ripe and time bath brought thee. What the Sybil saith of thee shall be accomplished and even more shall be said of thee. The summer that bringeth roses is that contrary time wherein all things are divided; which is an indication that man was building on sand. This must pass away, and thou shalt set it upon the rock that many will be astounded. For when the time cometh, also therewith cometh that wherefore the time bath come."